Waves Aquatic Centre at Baulkham Hills to close for two years as part of major redevelopment

One of the last remaining public pools in Sydney’s north west will close from March 2020 as part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of ageing facilities.

Concept Artist Impressions of the redevelopment of Waves Aquatic Centre.

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The Hills only public pool, and one of the last remaining in Sydney’s north west, will close from March 2020 for at least 18 months as part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment.

Major construction at Waves Aquatic Centre, which aims at fixing failing equipment that has serviced the community for the past 50 years, is expected to take between 18 months and two years to complete.

The closure to redevelop the fitness and aquatic centre at Baulkham Hills is touted to occur from March 31 next year — seeing contracts with current management Belgravia expired and not renewed — and is earmarked to include a new Olympic-sized swimming pool, cafe and fitness centre included in the plans.

A concept design of the gym at the new fitness and aquatic centre.

However, confidential sources told the Times the extended closure of the popular facility could result in professional and amateur swimming and fitness teams “under threat of having to disband”.

On Tuesday, The Hills Shire Council voted to approve tenders for an architecture firm, project management group and surveyor to prepare a detailed concept plan for the Waves Aquatic Centre renewal project, which senior council staff revealed was expected to reopen for the Summer of 2021 to 2022.

“We are concerned that council has not considered that this redevelopment has put our existence under threat of having to disband during this period and possibly even fold depending on the length of time taken (to redevelop the centre),” a source told the Times.

Hills Swimming Club swimmers Alanah Mabilia 12, Alexander Clarence 12 and Phoebe Reynolds 11 at Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre will force the club to fold. PIcture: AAP IMAGE/ Angelo Velardo

Former swimmers who called the Waves Aquatic Centre home include Paralympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Tim Hodge, as well as Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne — who said she “understands there will be unavoidable inconvenience”.

“But we believe that we will be delivering an asset that can be used by our children’s children,” she said.

“Because of our prudent financial management, our commitment to the community and our wish to see The Hills remain an active place where residents can enjoy a range of sports and leisure activities, we are delivering an asset which will serve the community for decades to come.”

Cr Byrne said council will work with residents, user groups and members in the lead up to the facility’s closure “to understand the needs and wants of the community and how to achieve the best possible outcome for everyone”.

What the facility couldlook like inside.

Community consultation on the redevelopment of the facility saw council receive 170 comments with “overall respondents positive towards an upgrade of the Waves Aquatic Centre”, according to council documents.

“The majority raised questions regarding the time frames, impacts on users and concerns as to

what interim solutions would be available,” the report revealed.

“Specific feedback was also provided by respondents as to specific features and inclusions

they believed were required in an upgrade — such as water play, pool depths, usage and patronage, and associated site amenity such as change rooms, parking, shade, cafe and lockers. “These considerations were further investigated as part of site visits to other aquatic facilities, undertaken by the project team.”

Hills Swimming Club swimmer Jeffrey Lu. The club is concerned that the redevelopment of Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre will force the club to fold. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ Angelo Velardo

Hills Shire Council officers rejected claims from community groups the centre would be closed for three years, with councillors voting to approve tenders from Architectural services firm NBRS Partners, project management Turner and Towsend Thinc and quantity surveyor Donald Cant Watt Corke.

Hills Shire councillor Robyn Preston said council was “obliged to provide these new public facilities”.

‘Gone are the days of big backyards with swimming pools and slides in backyards,” she said.

“We want to create big open spaces, not just playing fields but an aquatic centre.

“This will be a wellness centre and a place for people to meet.”

Facilities will be upgraded as part of the multimillion-dollar redevelopment.